Rotary Club of Maplewood June 27 7-10PM Meet and Greet: Join the Maplewood Rotary Club and meet members, learn about their service projects and discover how Rotary is passionate about giving back DETAILS South Orange Elks Lodge, 220 Prospect Street, South Orange; 917-531-7983 Meadowland Park Conservancy and South Orange Village June 27 5PM Star-Spangled South Orange with free kids’ activities and dance performances, food trucks, the Town Hall Deli Sloppy Joe Eating Contest, a performance by the South Orange Symphony and an evening showing of Hamilton DETAILS Flood’s Hill, 100 North Ridgewood Road, South Orange; MeadowlandPark.org South Orange Recreation & Cultural Affairs, SOPAC and Meadowland Park Conservancy South Orange June 19 1:30-8:30PM South Orange World Cup Watch Party & Juneteenth Celebration: food trucks, beer garden and kid-friendly soccer fun DETAILS Meadowland Park by the Baird Community Center, 5 Mead Street, South Orange; Wednesdays in July 7:30PM Summer Nights concert series and food trucks featuring Essex Funk Soul Collective (July 1), Forget the Whale (July 8), Water Towers (July 15), The Brooklyners (July 22) and Workingman’s Jed (July 29) August 4 5-10PM National Night Out, community fun, food, music and neighborhood connection featuring an outdoor movie: The Bad Guys 2 DETAILS Floods Hill, South Orange; southorange.org Maplewoodstock July 11-12 12-10PM Maplewoodstock Music and Art Festival: featuring 22 bands, local food and art vendors, kid zone and beer garden DETAILS Memorial Park, Maplewood; maplewoodstock.com The Theater Project July 17-18 7:30PM, July 19 2PM Too Fat for China: Comedian Phoebe Potts’ one-woman show follows the surprises and painful realizations of her adoption journey with humor and candor July 24- 25 7:30PM, July 26 2PM Kaleidoscope Kabaret: Festival of songs and short plays from Playwrights Workshop and Young Playwrights Competition. DETAILS The DMK Theater/Union Arts Center, 1980 Morris Avenue, Union; thetheaterproject.org feature story / 31 kinds of bicycles and skateboards. They also sell parts and accessories such as helmets, saddles and swag, the latter of which is produced by José’s family’s business in the Do minican Republic. Since buying the shop, the Bencosmes have put their mark on it. They have a broader range of bikes and have introduced some new brands, including Can nondale. They strive to have something for ev eryone and work hard to find the right bike and fit for each customer. Once again, Jaz min’s past work experience comes in handy. “As an industrial engineer, I took classes regarding ergonomics for workers…[and] applied it to biking. When you get unnatural pain, [it’s] because you don’t have 100 percent ergonomic position in your arms, your legs, your back, you know, ev erything.” She says a proper fit should make for a comfortable ride. “I feel good doing what I’m doing today because I feel that I can con tribute to others in a very good way,” she says. “When you repair a bicy cle for an adult or kid, you are con tributing to that person or family.” She especially likes to hear from customers af ter they go for a ride on the bike they just bought. “They text us, and that’s very kind when they do that, because when they go to a special place, they send a picture [and say], ‘Thank you, guys. I love my new bike, and I’m with my husband riding together,’ ” she says. “I just feel like, wow, we are doing something good.” The Bencosmes are active with the riding community. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they go on group rides in Rahway River Park and Warinanco Park and participate in other special rides throughout the year. To keep customers informed, they send out email blasts for up coming rides and encourage people to check their Facebook and Insta gram for more information. They will also gladly recommend places to ride to match a customer’s skill level, bicycle and desired experience. Martine still visits the store to check in with Jazmin and José and to tend the vegetable garden that she plants every year. She’s glad to know the shop is in good hands and says, “I feel good. I feel at peace. I feel at ease.” Ellen Donker looks forward to con sulting with the Bencosmes on a suit able group ride that is not too hilly and not too fast. Maplewood Bike Shed owner José Bencosme, originally trained as an accountant, is the lead mechanic. The Maplewood Bike Shed sells and repairs all kinds of bicycles and skate boards. They also sell parts and acces sories such as helmets, saddles, gloves and more. José Bencosme was a member of the Team Asocipe - Moca club and competed in the Vuelta Independencia Nacional, the most important stage road bicycle race in the Dominican Republic. Fall Events That Matter Summer World Cup Watch Party Too Fat for China Star Spangled South Orange Summer Nights Concert Series Maplewoodstock Rotary Club
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.